Touring Scotland

Folks. Thanks for all the advice & encouragement. We will certainly think about some of the alternative sites, particularly it seems for Culloden Moor. We will be taking our time over this trip never spending any less than 2 nights on any one site. 

I would not say there is anything wrong with Culloden as a site, did not feel cramped to us, but these days we take more notice of prices than we did 10 years back, so favour Dingwall  as we tour low/mid season and get the age discount with CCC.   If visiting the NT site and Inverness itself, with the cost of fuel now, it could well make sense to use Culloden.

We have also been a couple of times at Bunree, but last year used CCC Glencoe, though you do not get the lovely views ,   Oban is not too far away either, worth a visit, great views from the folly up on the hill.

That site Nellie linked to looks good, better value than Balbirnie as the pitches are serviced, and better placed for the East Neuk.

Driving on Skye......roads are ok, good visibility ahead as very few trees, but will be busy, especially with MHs.

6 sites in a month should give you plenty of time to spend at least 3 nights on any site, some will be worth  using 5-6 nights, or longer.

Go for it! Only by visiting will you discover your favourite spots and I can guarantee the experience will leave you wanting to explore further.

An interesting  thread, Thank you. There’s been a lot of focus on choice of campsites but that’s never been my starting point - in fact choice of campsite never bothered me very much at all. Destinations mattered much more.

If I could get back to Scotland from here I know exactly what I would like to see - the Burrell Collection, Culzean Castle, Dumfries House,  and the Isle of Arran - and perhaps down to Logan garden in the south. But what the campsites are like wouldn’t be a deal breaker.- I would take whatever there was.  I just have the list of places I would like to see - though at my age it would most likely be AirBnb’s now.

You make a good point. It’s a bit like planning your tour around Lidl locations because you’ve got a store card! I detect from your recent posts that you may be hanging up your touring boots? We’ll all reach that stage no doubt (if we’re lucky), but at least you have plenty of memories from places visited without too much fuss or bother getting in the way.

We live in Scotland and have stayed at all the sites mentioned by the OP, all except the CCC one on Skye. 

I prefer North Ledaig to Bunree. 

Culloden we have stayed at often and never had a bad experience, if possible you want to pitch right at the top of the site as that is where the best views are, but it is the furthest away from the facilities.

At the Woods near Stirling you are not far from an outlet centre (Stirling Mills) if you fancy a bit of retail therapy. I can recommend having something (high tea) in the Butterfly Inn which is across the road and on the left as you approach the Stirling furniture shop. Lovely lunches as well. Of course with Stirling Castle and Wallace monument on the door step you will have plenty to choose from. Loch Katrine is also well worth a look see. 

Balbirnie is a bit of a marmite site, we use it now and again but the cost has increased a lot since our last visit so may look at NTH suggestion. The Fife coast is full of surprises and lovely villages, we sometimes go just for the day from where we live.

Melrose is our least favourite place.

Last year we did the NC500 West to East in May. Despite all the claims of how bad the roads are or how busy it gets we had a lovely time. There was plenty of folk around but it wasn't busy by any means. The roads were fine if you are used to single track and driving to the conditions. It the loons who drive as if they are on motorways that are the problem.

Midges, all depends on weather conditions. We've had a dry mild spell recently but it's been chilly in the evenings and overnight frost are still common. West Coast gets more rain so can suffer more with the little blighters. If its at all breezy then you are OK but if its still and warm be warned they are lethal and to be avoided at all costs.

Enjoy your visit and don't let anything said put you off. You have a good amount of time to do the trip. I would just add that you are only scraping the surface and for me the best of Scotland is from Fort William North. 

Thank you Alex.  We're looking forward to it all.  Also looking forward to our return visit to the Western Isles later on.  Our daughter and son-in-law (who moved to Harris with Lewis, a couple of years back) have just bought a boat so that Wayne can do a bit of fishing...  (not to go right out to sea, by the way - they thought they might be able to access some of the 'hidden coves') 😀

David

AirB'nB or renting a cottage may well be the way to go, especially for a shorter trip.  It's not worth tugging a caravan for a shorter journey.  We're only in the Western Isles for 6 nights... Against we've payed the extra ferry costs for the caravan, plus the cost of fuel and the reduced mileage because of towing, we've rented the cottage and can share cost with my sister and brother-in-law, who we can take as we have room in the car....

David

I would avoid Culloden Moor. We stayed there on the way up to the north coast and didn't like it at all. On the way back we booked Barrow Campsite, Nairn (formerly Barns Highland Park). It is about 10 minutes drive past Culloden Moor and is a fantastic site. Lovely open views of the surrounding area and large, flat hard standing pitches.

Folks

Thanks for all the advice. I have been indulging my other passion sailing from Cornwall to Scotland . We will certainly take another look at options instead of Culloden Moor.